FiveM hangs on the splash or loading screen
This one is not certain. It is marked likely: the guidance is safe and reasonable, but the diagnosis is not proven for every case. If it does not match what you are seeing, stop and ask rather than pushing on.
A loading screen that never finishes is usually still working โ waiting on files, a slow disk, or a scan โ rather than truly frozen.
What you see
- FiveM opens but never reaches the server list, or never finishes loading into the server
- No error message appears
- The process may be using little or no CPU
What usually causes it
- A stale FiveM process from a previous session
- A corrupted cache
- Antivirus scanning every file FiveM touches
- A very slow drive or a nearly full disk
- Waiting on a server asset download that is stalled
Worth checking first
- Check Task Manager for existing FiveM processes
- Check disk free space and whether the drive is a hard disk rather than an SSD
- Watch whether network activity continues (a stalled download looks like a hang)
Safe steps, one at a time
- Close all FiveM processes, then start once, cleanly
- Give a first join to a large server several minutes before calling it frozen โ asset downloads can be large
- Clear only the FiveM server cache if it persists
- Add the FiveM folder to your antivirus exclusions (do not disable protection)
These are suggestions, not instructions. Do only what you are comfortable with, back up anything important first, and stop if a step does not match what is on your screen. Advice, risk and responsibility.
When to stop and ask staff
Escalate if the hang is reproducible on AGN at the same loading stage and other servers load normally.
Looks like
FiveM / GTA V installation
What staff will need
- Where exactly it stops (splash, server list, loading screen, character select)
- Whether other servers load
- How long they waited
Applies to
AGN's loading screen is its own resource; if the hang is there specifically, check that resource.
Last reviewed Fri Sep 18.
Still stuck?
Related
- Could not find game executable
- Game storage outdated
- Error loading component (a named .dll)
- Opening database (privcache:/) failed: IO error: could not lock file
- Moving of xyz.exe failed (err = 32)
- Stuck on "Starting FiveM, we're getting there"
- Stuck on a rotating splash screen
- FiveM uninstalls itself after running it